Hello HB,
I am new to this forum, and mainly because I just inherited a Faema Faemina espresso from my parents which they got as a wedding present in 1959. A few years ago they let it run out of water and damaged the lower seal on the piston which I would like to repair. They purchased a large rubber seal, a small red seal, and a spring. I would like to get this machine up and running again. I guess that I am wondering if I should completely overhaul it, or just try to replace the lower seal and install what I am guessing is a spring and seal for the pressure valve. I live fairly close to NYC were there are some reputable espresso machine repair shops. I found on the internet a description of how to take the Faemina apart, but I am always a little hesitant to work on something that is rare and valuable on my first try on something new. What or whom would you suggest? Thanks for your help, and I am pleased to be a new member of your forum.

You may need a special tool to open the lower cylinder, if you don't do it carefully, it could be damaged, because it made of soft brass. One of mine is damaged because an inexperienced iron smith tried to open the lower cylinder with his heavy tools.
Maybe send it to orphan espresso, Doug rebuilt some Faeminaes before.

Hello Marc,

Welcome to HB, and how wonderful to start with such a classic machine. The Faemina is said to make excellent espresso, so of course it's well worth fixing.

As usual the best information source about rebuilding that machine is Orphan Espresso. Here's a link to their rebuild guide. They also carry parts for these machines. http://www.orphanespresso.com/Faema-Faemina-Espresso-Machine-Rebuild-Tips-&-Photos_ep_541-1.html

I wouldn't just take it in to any "reputable" espresso repairman, because you want to make sure this rebuild is done carefully to preserve the value and functionality of your family heirloom. If this rebuild seems to be too much for you, I would inquire whether Doug Garrott has time to take it on. He's the co-owner with his wife, Barb, of OE. They're good, honest people. They are also very busy these days launching a breakthrough product that they build by hand, the Pharos hand grinder.

I just finished a rebuild of a Faemina, including seals and electrical. The Orphan Espresso rebuild guide is a must study. I will be available to answer any questions as well. My first suggestion, if this machine was run dry, is to verify that the elements are working. If they are not, the rebuild could be fairly expensive or impossible.

Second, getting the collar off (and on) is a huge pain in the butt. Huge. The rest of it is really not too bad. It's a fun machine and really a cool rebuild project. If you don't do the rebuild yourself, send it to someone who has worked on this model of machine before.

Thanks for the responses. With a consensus that Doug from Orphan Espresso is the best person to do the job, I am waiting to hear back from him to see if he wants to take on my project. This particular machine has a blue plaque with serial number 236x, the black toggle switches and min max red button labels, and a steam wand. It looks like a mixture between the Faema first model "red label" and the Faema second model "blue label" as seen on the website http://www.francescoceccarelli.eu/faema_eng.htm . The glass window is definitely the one on the older red label, and the older style toggle switches that are featured on the red label model, but the base is not chrome plated as the older ones are.

I just filled the machine and turned it on to see where water or steam was leaking, and contrary to what my folks told me, the machine leaks from top and bottom. It starts dripping from the portafilter immediately when I fill it and turn it on, and then as it warms up, water starts coming out of the top of the piston seal. This baby is going to take a whole seal kit to repair.

But it heats up. That's very good news. Seals can be replaced.

Really if the cylinder is being removed, might as well swap them all out. Really wont change the cost for you if you take it someplace, or the time and difficulty of doing it yourself. Come on, don't you want to crack it open and see how it works?

Junior wrote:Really if the cylinder is being removed, might as well swap them all out. Really wont change the cost for you if you take it someplace, or the time and difficulty of doing it yourself. Come on, don't you want to crack it open and see how it works?

+1

If you take it apart and can't get it back together again, you still have the option of sending it to someone to do that. If you can get it together again, you save time and $ and you join the DIY club!

Yes, I would like to do it myself, but I'd really feel better having the expertise of a craftsman who has taken these apart, fiddled with them, and knows them inside and out take care of my family heirloom. Since I just had a long conversation with Doug from OE and he agreed to work on my machine, I can't think of a reason to try it myself and risk damaging it. My hat is off to Junior for tackling yours and getting it done.